The KC-46A that accomplished today’s refueling milestone
will soon begin refueling a number of other military
aircraft as well, including a C-17, F/A-18, A-10 and
AV-8B. Also known as EMD-2, the tanker made its first
flight September 25, 2015 and has now completed 32
flights. The program’s first test aircraft
(EMD-1), a 767-2C, has completed more than 260 flight
test hours to date since its first flight in December
2014. EMD-3 and EMD-4 will begin flight testing later
this year.
As
part of a contract awarded in 2011 to design and develop
the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation tanker aircraft,
Boeing is building four test aircraft – two are
currently configured as 767-2Cs and two as KC-46A
tankers. The KC-46A is a multirole tanker
Boeing is building for the U.S. Air Force that can
refuel all allied and coalition military aircraft
compatible with international aerial refueling
procedures and can carry passengers, cargo and patients.
Overall, Boeing plans to build 179 KC-46 aircraft for
the U.S. Air Force.
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